Warriors coach Andrew Webster and Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary. Photo: Photosport
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NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster has shrugged off a selection bombshell by Penrith Panthers counterpart Ivan Cleary that could cost the Auckland club third spot on the NRL table.
Currently fourth, the Warriors are just two points adrift of Canterbury Bulldogs, who have a tough run home over the final two rounds of regular-season play, starting with the Panthers on Thursday.
After back-to-back defeats, the four-time defending champions have lost ground in their own bid for the top four, so coach Cleary has decided to rest all his starters against the Bulldogs, giving his stars some much-needed rest before the post-season.
"I've been in this situation before, at the Panthers and here in 2023," Webster reflected. "You have the right to do it.
"If they feel that's the best thing for them, then go for it - that's fine.
"There's no way around it, they have a right to pick who they pick. I completely understand that they're allowed to do what they like."
Strategic selections are not uncommon about this time of any sporting competition, as playoff positions firm up, and coaches balance the need for continuity and form against avoiding unnecessary injuries at the business end of the campaign.
"Fatigue is definitely part of it," Cleary said. "With where we've had to come from - last on the table in Round 12 - we've been playing cut-throat footy for a long time.
"We had a good winning streak there and then lost the last couple, both in extra time, and had some good lessons there of how we were playing.
"There were some signs there where we thought a break could do some good."
Webster did something similar two years ago, when the Warriors had already locked down their top-four spot, along with an extra life and a home playoff fixture, before the final round.
He rested many of his front-liners in a loss to the Dolphins, as they slipped from third to fourth on the table.
Webster spent two seasons as an assistant under Cleary at Penrith, so he's well attuned to how his former mentor thinks, as is veteran Warriors second-rower Kurt Capewell, another to taste success with the Panthers.
"I wasn't aware of it, but I'm not really across how their roster's looking, whether they've got injuries they're carrying," Capewell said. "They're a successful team with a great coach - I'm sure he knows what he's doing."
Even an understrength Panthers line-up are dangerous, as the Warriors found, when they lost at home against a side missing five Origin stars in June, while the Bulldogs are also reeling from consecutive losses.
There's little difference between third and fourth on the final table anyway, only who you face in the first round of playoffs, so the Warriors will be more concerned about holding off their closest challengers over the final two weeks.
Here's how the current playoff picture looks, heading into the penultimate round:
CANBERRA RAIDERS
First on 42 points, from 18 wins, four losses
Round 26 v Wests Tigers (H)
Victory and a Melbourne loss would clinch the minor premiership for Ricky Stuart's men, but their points differential won't help them in the event of a tie. They probably need to win both their last two fixtures to assure themselves that top spot, but regardless, they will host a qualifying final in the capital and, as it stands, that would be against the Warriors.
Round 27 v Dolphins (A)
MELBOURNE STORM
Second on 40 points, from 17 wins, five losses
Round 26 v Sydney Roosters (H)
Still have a shot at the minor premiership, but need the Raiders to stumble over the finish-line. They are still within striking distance of the Bulldogs, but their league-best points differential would see them safe in the event of a countback.
Round 27 v Brisbane Broncos (A)
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Third on 36 points, from 15 wins, seven losses
Round 26 v Penrith Panthers (H)
Still have a shot at second and the benefits that brings, but need to boost their points differential to take the countback advantage. Could also finish as low as sixth and desperately need to reverse their losing skid.
Round 27 v Cronulla Sharks (H)
NZ WARRIORS
Fourth on 34 points, from 14 wins, eight losses
Round 26 v Parramatta Eels (H)
Can finish as high as third, if the Bulldogs stumble, but could finish as low as seventh if things turn ugly. On paper, they have the easiest finish of any playoff contenders, with Parramatta and Manly outside the eight, but both showed last week they have the ability to disrupt anyone's run to the playoffs.
Round 27 v Manly Sea Eagles (A)
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Fifth on 32 points, from 13 wins, nine losses
Round 26 v North Queensland Cowboys (A)
Can finish third or eighth, and much will depend on whether the Storm also decide to rest players in the final round.
Round 27 v Melbourne Storm (H)
CRONULLA SHARKS
Sixth on 32 points, from 13 wins, nine losses
Round 26 v Newcastle Knights (H)
The Knights have been terrible and may yet end up with the wooden spoon, so they can't be expected to trip up the Sharks at this stage of the season. Cronulla need to bank a big win to improve their countback situation against the Broncos.
Round 27 v Canterbury Bulldogs (A)
PENRITH PANTHERS
Seventh on 31 points, from 12 wins, nine losses, one draw
Round 26 v Canterbury Bulldogs (A)
Despite Cleary's pessimism, the champions can still make the top four, but need an awful lot to fall their way. They're safely in the playoffs and can't be underestimated by anyone, as they eye a fifth straight crown.
Round 27 v St George Illawarra Dragons (A)
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Eighth on 28 points, from 11 wins, 11 losses
Round 26 v Melbourne Storm (A)
Can finish as high as fifth or they could easily miss out altogether. Defeat to Melbourne would leave them facing a last-round squeaker against archrivals Souths, with Dolphins and Manly breathing down their necks.
Round 27 v South Sydney Rabbitohs (H)
DOLPHINS
Ninth on 26 points, from 10 wins, 12 losses
Round 26 v Gold Coast Titans (H)
After three straight losses, the Dolphins' hopes are fading fast and they will also hope the Raiders have clinched top spot and decide to rest players in their finale. Otherwise, they risk being spat out the back of the playoff race.
Round 27 v Canberra Raiders (H)
MANLY SEA EAGLES
10th on 26 points, from 10 wins, 12 losses
Round 26 v St George Illawarra Dragons (A)
Broke a four-game slump with a big win over the Dolphins and suddenly look a million bucks. Hard to know which version will turn up from one week to the next, but they have the cattle to finish strong.
Round 27 v NZ Warriors (H)
WESTS TIGERS
11th on 24 points, from nine wins, 13 losses
Round 26 v Canberra Raiders (A)
No-one thought the Tigers would still be contenders this late in the season, especially the Sydney media that have taken swings at them all season. They need too much to go right - they must win out, and hope the Roosters, Dolphins and Sea Eagles loose big - but it's been fun to watch.
Round 27 v Gold Coast Titans (A)
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